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The BMW Concept XM breaks cover…
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Towards the end of 2021 BMW M GmbH took the motoring world by surprise when they unveiled the Concept XM. Our initial thoughts were “it’s only a concept, it won’t make production” until we read this: “The BMW Concept XM looks ahead to the most powerful BMW M car ever to go into series production, which is set to begin at the end of next year.” Gulp! The styling is brutal. The XM’s kidney grilles have already been roundly slated on social media, along with the styling, which has been likened to the Range Rover Velar. But although it’s a concept, it looks like the grilles are staying. Here are some quotes from the BMW press release: “The new, progressive front-end design of BMW’s forthcoming luxury-class models can be seen for the first time on the BMW Concept XM. […] The series-production model – the BMW XM – will be produced from the end of 2022 at BMW Group Plant Spartanburg in the USA. […] BMW M GmbH will be presenting the first standalone M model since the legendary BMW M1 in the year it celebrates its 50th anniversary. […] The BMW XM will be the first electrified high-performance model in the BMW M portfolio. It will be available as an M Hybrid only. […] The newly developed M Hybrid drive system combines a V8 engine with a highperformance electric motor. It generates maximum output of 550 kW/750 hp and peak torque of 1,000 Nm, while the drivetrain enables an allelectric range of up to 80kms.” So there you have it, in 2023 the BMW XM will be coming to a BMW showroom near you.
BMW Group hands over one-millionth electrified vehicle
Shortly before Christmas, the BMW Group celebrated the delivery of its one-millionth electrified vehicle. Pieter Nota, BMW AG board member, handed over the milestone vehicle, a BMW iX xDrive40 to its owner at BMW Welt in December. The company included a special bonus with the delivery, the customer received a BMW Wallbox, including installation, to enable safe and convenient home charging, as well as the keys for their new vehicle.
Nota added, “The delivery of our one-millionth electrified vehicle marks a milestone in our transformation – and we already have the next one in our sights: we aim to break through the twomillion mark in just two years.”
This happy couple are handed the keys to a BMW iX xDrive40 by BMW AG board member Pieter Nota. The iX was the milestone one-millionth electrified vehicle produced by BMW
BMW Group Classic have confirmed that the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este will take place from the 20th to the 22nd May 2022. This spectacular event in Cernobbio, with its presentation of rare historic and classic automobiles against the backdrop of Lake Como, was hit by the Covid pandemic in 2020 and only a slightly scaled down event finally took place in October 2021. Thankfully the Concorso is back to its usual date in May, and registration for the competition is now open.
BMW Group UK & Rolls-Royce looking for apprentices
BMW UK and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is offering a record number of places on their apprenticeship programmes in 2022. BMW has 95 apprenticeship places available at their production sites at Oxford, Swindon, Hams Hall near Birmingham, Goodwood and at our National Sales Centre at Farnborough. For full entry requirements, further information and hits and tips on your application visit the following link: link: www. bmwgroup.jobs/gb/en/opportunities/apprentice.html Entries are open until 20th February 2022, but early applications are advised.
Rolls-Royce is offering a record 37 places on its prestigious apprenticeship scheme for 2022. Candidates for all apprenticeship positions should apply online at: www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com/careers Applications close at 12.00pm on 20th February 2022.
Both BMW and Rolls-Royce are looking for apprentices in 2022
Winter News in brief from BMW
Top Gear crowns BMW i4 Saloon of the Year
The first fully-electric Gran Coupé from BMW, the i4, has been crowned Saloon of the Year by Top Gear. Editor Jack Rix commented “We love the i4 because it could be any other well-specced BMW. The way the interior is arranged around you, the way it steers and drives. It’s lowslung and sporty and there’s just a certain rightness and cohesion to it. The all-drive chassis is more fluent than the Tesla or Polestar equivalents”.
Expansion of seven new UK eDrive Zones
Adding to its success, a further seven eDrive Zones have been rolled out in the UK, taking the total number to 138 across Europe. Aberdeen, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Coventry, Oxford and Sheffield have all been added. BMW eDrive Zones automate the process of switching to electric-only power when a BMW plug-in hybrid vehicle enters a defined area of these cities. The service, unique in the worldwide automotive industry, also automatically ensures that the electric power is conserved for use during the part of the journey within the low emission zone, if the journey destination is entered into the vehicle’s navigation system.
This new technology ensures BMW plug-in hybrid models offer consumers the best of both worlds: electric-only driving in the city, where it makes the most difference, and a highly efficient internal combustion engine to cover longer distances.
BMW named Most Reliable Carmaker at Fleet News Awards
BMW took home two awards at the 2021 Fleet News FN50, including Most Reliable Car for the BMW 3 Series and the highly coveted Most Reliable Car Manufacturer gong. Editor in Chief Stephen Briers commented; “BMW has been voted the most reliable car manufacturer in the UK by Fleet News leasing companies for an incredible seventh consecutive time, backing up its similar success in the fleet-voted Fleet News manufacturer of the year award.”
BMW victorious at Scottish Car of the Year Awards 2021
BMW’s 4 Series Coupé has been crowned Executive Car of the Year at the 2021 Scottish Car of the Year Awards. Voted for by members of the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers, the 4 Series Coupé finished at the top of its category after the judges compared notes and awarded the best models they have driven in 2021, stating that the 4 Series delivers both stunning performance and supreme handling capabilities, with a sleek and distinctive new exterior design, high quality interior, upgraded driver assistance technologies and even greater efficiencies with the introduction of mild-hybrid technology.
50th Anniversary News from BMW M
May 24th 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the foundation of BMW M. And to help celebrate this milestone, BMW UK will introduce a wide selection of BMW M High Performance and BMW M Performance models from March 2022 in some of the most popular BMW Individual paint finishes. These include Dakar Yellow, Fire Orange, Daytona Violet, Macao Blue, Imola Red and Frozen Marina Bay Blue. These exclusive vehicles will feature the classic BMW Motorsport logo, which will replace the standard BMW emblem on the front, rear and wheel centres.
BMW M is also launching an M3 Touring in 2022. In addition, BMW M has announced that a spectacular model based on the M4 and rumoured to be a CSL model will also be launched next year, as well as the successor to the M2.
